Signed in 2023, the partnership agreement between Université Grenoble Alpes and Fulbright France led to the establishment of research grants for researchers, PhD candidates, and master’s students, supporting mobility periods of three to twelve months between the two countries. This scheme supports both UGA researchers undertaking research stays in the United States and the hosting of American academic talents in Grenoble.

In 2025, 13 awardees are benefiting from this programme of excellence:

• 4 US Scholars have joined UGA to pursue their research within UGA laboratories;
• 3 US Master Students are enrolled in UGA master’s programmes as part of an academic mobility;
• 6 UGA Researchers, including one PhD candidate and five senior researchers, will undertake research stays in the United States to further their work and develop new international collaborations.

Through the number and diversity of the profiles supported, this new cohort highlights Université Grenoble Alpes’ international reach, the attractiveness of its academic programmes and research laboratories, and the strength of its partnership with the Fulbright programme, now firmly established over the long term.

Meet the 2025-2026 UGA Fulbright Awardees

Chercheurs de l’UGA

UGA Researchers

Mobility at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta for a duration of 4 months

Renaud Demadrille is a Director of Research at CEA and leads a team at the laboratory Systèmes Moléculaires et nanoMatériaux pour l'Énergie et la Santé (SyMMES, CNRS / CEA / UGA / Grenoble-INP - UGA).
He will carry out his mobility as a Research Associate at the School of Materials Science and Engineering and at the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE) at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, in collaboration with Prof. Natalie Stingelin.
His project focuses on the morphology and stability of blends of semiconducting polymers and block copolymers, aiming to understand how molecular structure and processing conditions influence the optoelectronic properties of thin films. The work will include constructing phase diagrams using ultrafast calorimetry and studying the rheological properties of polymer solutions. The objective is to strengthen collaboration between the laboratories and produce cutting-edge results in organic photovoltaic materials.

Recent publications include:

• Demadrille R., et al. Photochromic Organic Solar Cells: A Step Towards Adaptive Photovoltaics, Advanced Energy Materials, 2022.
• Demadrille R., et al. Semiconducting Polymer Blends: Thermodynamic and Morphological Insights, Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2021.

View the complete list of his publications

Audrey Le Gouellec

Mobility at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) – Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for a duration of 3 months

Dr. Audrey Le Gouellec is a Lecturer in Medical Biochemistry at UGA and CHU Grenoble. She leads studies on host–microbiota interactions at Recherche Translationnelle et Innovation en Médecine et Complexité laboratory (TIMC, CNRS / UGA / VetAgro sup / Grenoble INP - UGA)TIMC (TrEE team) and coordinates the GEMELI-GExiM platform.
During her mobility at UC San Diego, in the laboratory of Prof. Pieter C. Dorrestein, she will develop the HARMONY project, analyzing microbiota–human interactions through advanced metabolomics, including intestinal microbiota and chronic lung infections. This mobility will strengthen collaborations with the teams of Pieter C. Dorrestein and Rob Knight, prepare the implementation of Franco-American clinical trials comparing the impact of different diets on relevant metabolites, and train Grenoble-based PhD students in multi-omics approaches.
This experience will reinforce her position as a leader in clinical metabolomics and in One Health projects at the interface of microbiota, nutrition, and health, while consolidating sustainable partnerships between UCSD and UGA. 

Recent publications include:

• Jarmusch A.K., Le Gouellec A., Dorrestein P.C., et al. ReDU: A Framework to Find and Reanalyze Public Mass Spectrometry Data, Nature Methods, 2020.
• Nothias L.-F., Le Gouellec A., Dorrestein P.C., et al. Feature-Based Molecular Networking in the GNPS Analysis Environment, Nature Methods, 2020.

View the complete list of her publications

Anne Milet

Mobility at Louisiana State University (LSU) for a duration of 6 months

Anne Milet is a Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at UGA within the Département de Chimie Moléculaire (DMC, UGA / CNRS), specializing in CO₂ valorization and a founding member of the DéfiCO₂ program. She has also held major responsibilities at UGA, including leadership roles at the Labex ARCANE, the UFR of Chemistry and Biology, and the University Research School in Chemistry, Biology, and Health.
During her mobility at LSU, in the laboratory of Prof. Revati Kumar, she will develop a project combining artificial intelligence and theoretical chemistry to model the solubility and reactivity of CO₂ in deep eutectic solvents. The project provides a novel mechanistic rationale and paves the way for sustainable CO₂ chemistry.
This Fulbright mobility will strengthen scientific collaborations between the complementary expertise of UGA and LSU, adapt and develop innovative AI methodologies applied to complex chemical systems, and establish a durable partnership in a strategic research area for the Grenoble site. In this context, Anne Milet has also received complementary funding from the New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures (NOUS).

Recent publications include:

• Milet A., et al. AI-Driven Modeling of CO₂ Reactivity in Deep Eutectic Solvents, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2023.
• Milet A., et al. Theoretical Insights into CO₂ Valorization Pathways, Chemical Science, 2022.

View the complete list of her publications

Zakariya Nahoue

Mobility at the Louisiana State University Law Center, Center of Civil Law Studies for a duration of 6 months

Zakariya Nahoue is a PhD student in law at UGA and affiliated with Centre d'études sur la sécurité internationale et les coopérations européennes (CESICE, Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA / UGA). His research focuses on the African internal market in light of the European experience.
Throughout his career, he has already undertaken research stays at Laval University, as well as a practical and research internship with the African Union and ECOWAS. He has received several distinctions, including the MITACS Scholarship in 2021, the Jean Monnet Scholarship from the UGA Foundation in 2022, and a mobility grant at the Maison Française d’Oxford as part of the GATES project in 2023.
During his mobility at the Louisiana State University Law Center, he will study Louisiana legal pluralism and the development of a framework for African economic integration. He will write an article for the Journal of Civil Law Studies, present his work at LSU and Tulane University, and participate in activities at the Center of Civil Law Studies. This stay will enhance his understanding of comparative law and regional integration.As part of this partnership, Zakariya Nahoue has received complementary funding from the New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures (NOUS).

Recent publications include:

• Nahoue Z. Les accords de réadmission entre l'Union européenne et les États tiers : Le cas de l'Union européenne et des États africains, Actes du Colloque des doctorants à l'Université de Grenoble, 2023.
• Nahoue Z., Pluralisme juridique et intégration économique africaine, Article à paraître dans le Journal of Civil Law Studies.

Nicolas Segond

Mobility at the University of Minnesota for a duration of 12 months

Dr. Nicolas Segond is an emergency physician at the Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, a lecturer at Université Grenobe Alpes Faculty of Medicine, and a researcher specializing in cardiac arrest and ventilatory physiology. He recently defended a doctoral thesis on ventilatory physiology during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
During his mobility at the University of Minnesota, he will evaluate innovative devices to improve cerebral perfusion during cardiac arrest in animal models, with the goal of clinical translation. This stay will help develop a structured Franco-American scientific partnership.
The main objective of this Fulbright mobility is to allow Dr. Segond to acquire solid skills and experience in preclinical research within a world-renowned laboratory that has been a leader in this field for over 20 years. It also aims to further strengthen the Franco-American scientific collaboration.

Recent publications include:

• Segond N., et al. Ventilatory Physiology During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Insights for Improving Cerebral Perfusion, Resuscitation, 2024.
• Segond N., et al. Combination of Innovative Devices in Cardiac Arrest Management, American Heart Association Proceedings, 2024.

View the complete list of his publications

Martin Weik

Mobility at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory for a duration of 4 months

Martin Weik is a Director of Research at CEA, at the Institut de Biologie Structurale de Grenoble (IBS, CEA / CNRS / UGA), where he leads the research group “Dynamics and Kinetics of Molecular Processes” (DYNAMOP).
During his mobility at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, he will study the structure and dynamics of light-sensitive macromolecules using time-resolved crystallography, XFEL, and electron microscopy.
This mobility will also allow Martin Weik and his host, Professor Soichi Wakatsuki, to establish a long-term partnership between the Department of Structural Biology at Stanford and the Institut de Biologie Structurale in Grenoble, strengthening international collaborations and the exchange of expertise in advanced structural biology.

Recent publications include:

• Weik M., et al. Integrated structural dynamics uncover a new B12 photoreceptor activation mode, Nature, sous presse, 2026.
• Sorigue D., Weik M., et al. Mechanism and dynamics of fatty acid photodecarboxylase, Science, 2021.
• Woodhouse J., Weik M., et al. Photoswitching mechanism of a fluorescent protein revealed by time-resolved crystallography, Nature Communications, 2020.

View the complete list of his publications

US Master Students

Sidney Barbier

Mobility at Université Grenoble Alpes as part of the Master’s in Earth, Planetary, and Environmental Science (M1), specialization in The Climate System: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere
Graduate school : TERRA

Sidney Barbier is originally from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. After earning a double degree in Environmental Science and Music at the University of Denver, she is pursuing a Master’s in Earth, Planetary, and Environmental Sciences at Université Grenoble Alpes, with a specialization in “Climate: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere.”
She also participates in the TERRA thematic program, which focuses on the social and environmental challenges of ecological transition, combining Earth sciences and social sciences. Her research focuses on the impact of pollution—particularly PFAS and microplastics—on snow and glaciers, as well as the consequences of climate change on water resources.
This Fulbright mobility will allow her to conduct fieldwork and research in a field she is passionate about, while developing scientific and interdisciplinary partnerships in Grenoble, in line with her plans to pursue a PhD and a career in academia or environmental policy.or environmental advocacy.

Recent publications include:

• Barbier, Sidney. 2025. « Fresh Water ». In: Helen Hazen and Paul Sutton, An Introduction to Environment, Society and Sustainability. Oxford, UK: Routledge.
• Barbier, Sidney. 2025. « Oceans ». In: Helen Hazen and Paul Sutton, An Introduction to Environment, Society and Sustainability. Oxford, UK: Routledge.
• Barbier, Sidney. 2024. « Northern Colorado aerial cloud-seeding program suspended for now ». Fresh Water News, Water Education Colorado.

Brianna Cellini

Mobility at Université Grenoble Alpes in the International BioHealth Engineering Master’s program (M2).
Graduate School : Chemistry Biology Health

As a Fulbright Advanced Student, Brianna will pursue an International Master’s in BioHealth Engineering at Université Grenoble Alpes.
Her research focuses on functional rehabilitation after strokes and neurotrauma, including transcranial magnetic stimulation and ecological motor tasks.
This Fulbright mobility will allow her to deepen her interdisciplinary skills, strengthen international collaboration in neuro-rehabilitation, and integrate into the neuro-rehabilitation research community in Grenoble.
Among her distinctions, she has received the David M. Rubenstein Scholar award (Duke University, 2020–2024) and the Paol Kenig Award for her outstanding thesis written in a foreign language (Duke University, 2024).

Recent publications include:

• Blueprints for healing: central nervous system regeneration in zebrafish and neonatal mice », avril 2025.
• « L’aile brisée du papillon : le concept contemporain de métamorphose au prisme des mises en récit des neurotraumatisés », mars 2024.
• « Effect of Acute Physical Interventions on Pathophysiology and Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature », septembre 2022.

Brigid Toomey

Mobility at Université Grenoble Alpes in the Master’s program in Molecular & Cellular Biology (M1).
Graduate school : Chemistry Biology Health

Graduated in May from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and minors in Biochemistry and French, Brigid conducted research in genetics and molecular biology at UNL through the NIH INBRE research program. She will start her PhD in Cancer Biology at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).
During her one-year mobility at UGA, she will develop a project entitled The role of miR 10a-5p in Behavioral Addictions and Its Translational Biomarker Potential at the Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences (GIN), in the team "Physiopathologie de la Motivation". She is currently pursuing a first-year Master’s in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Université Grenoble Alpes, specializing in the Physiology, Epigenetics, Differentiation, and Cancer program. Her research project focuses on the role of miR-10a-5p in behavioral addictions and its potential as a translational biomarker.
Brigid chose Université Grenoble Alpes as her Fulbright partner institution because of its strong reputation in biology, its integration of academic training with active research, and the quality of life offered in Grenoble. She aims to deepen her training in molecular and cellular biology, gain familiarity with new experimental techniques, and benefit from the collaborative culture of academic research in France.

US Scholars

Clement Burns

Mobility at the Néel Institute, Grenoble for a duration of 3 months

Dr. Clément Burns is a full professor of physics at Western Michigan University, specializing in experimental condensed matter physics. During his stay, he will join the Magnetism and Superconductivity Group, Condensed Matter – Low Temperatures at Institut Néel Fundamental research laboratory in condensed matter physics (CNRS / UGA). His work will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Christophe Marcenat and Dr. Thierry Klein, focusing on the properties of exotic superconductors.
His research project aims to study unusual superconducting materials. Superconductivity is a quantum state observed in certain metals at low temperatures, in which electrons pair up and move coherently, giving rise to novel properties. At a critical temperature, known as the transition temperature, electrons form pairs and create a state in which they flow without resistance through the material. He will work with Dr. Christophe Marcenat and Dr. Thierry Klein to study specific heat, resistivity, and magnetization. This stay will allow him to deepen his experimental skills and contribute to cutting-edge projects.

Lisa Paulius

Mobility at the Néel Institute, Grenoble for a duration of 3 months

Dr. Lisa Paulius is a professor of physics at Western Michigan University, specializing in experimental condensed matter physics. Her research focuses on vortex dynamics in high-temperature superconductors.
Her project concentrates on unconventional superconductors featuring complex phase diagrams and a wide variety of superconducting gap structures. Superconductors can carry electrical currents without loss, shield magnetic fields, and measure magnetic flux, enabling numerous technological applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the fabrication of ultra-strong magnets, and highly precise magnetic sensing devices.
Dr. Paulius will collaborate with Dr. Christophe Marcenat, a member of the Superconductivity and Magnetism Group at Institut Néel (CNRS / UGA). She will use modulated specific heat measurements to study the properties of unconventional superconductors, aiming to better understand their phase diagrams and enhance their ability to carry currents without losses. Université Grenoble Alpes and Institut Néel provide an ideal environment for this project thanks to their high level of scientific activity and state-of-the-art facilities, including the Grenoble High Magnetic Field Lab, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and the Institut Laue-Langevin.

Matthew Reid

Mobility at the Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Grenoble for a duration of 5 months

Matthew Reid is an Associate Professor at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University and was a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at EPFL (Switzerland) from 2014 to 2016. His research program focuses on applying biogeochemical systems to issues related to water quality and the production of biogenic greenhouse gases.
He will carry out his mobility at the Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTerre, UGA / CNRS / USMB / IRD / Université Gustave Eiffel) in Grenoble from January to May 2026, in collaboration with Alex Fernandez-Martinez and Laurent Charlet. He will analyze the role of iron redox reactions in the decomposition of lignocellulosic biomass using µXRF and machine learning, give seminars, and strengthen his local and international collaborations.
Matthew Reid chose Université Grenoble Alpes for the quality of its scientific community and access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the ESRF. He aims to expand his professional network, deepen his experimental skills, and contribute to local research by giving seminars on arsenic contamination, sustainable treatment of agricultural water, and the degradation of lignocellulosic materials.

Olaseni Sode

Mobility at the Institut Néel, Grenoble for a duration of 4 months

Dr. Olaseni Sode is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at California State University, Los Angeles. He holds a PhD in Chemistry, specializing in theoretical and computational chemistry, and has led an active research group since 2015 focusing on molecular reactivity, vibrational spectroscopy, and condensed matter systems, integrating advanced approaches from quantum chemistry and machine learning.
His project, titled “Modeling Complex Vibrations in Materials and Developing International Partnerships,” takes place within the Condensed Matter Theory group at Institut Néel (CNRS / UGA), in collaboration with Dr. Andrés and Dr. Ambroise van Roekeghem from the Computational Materials Physics group at CEA-Grenoble. The project models complex vibrations in solid materials and develops tools to predict anharmonic effects of phonons. The stay will strengthen international scientific partnerships and foster exchanges between students and early-career researchers.
Dr. Sode chose Grenoble for its internationally recognized research environment in condensed matter physics and materials science. Academically, he aims to advance collaborative research on anharmonic vibrational properties of functional materials. Professionally, the stay focuses on building a sustainable global partnership between Grenoble-based institutions and California State University, Los Angeles, including the development of student and early-career researcher exchange opportunities.